Glass washrooms in China offer stunning views of the forest -- and other users

By Christy Leung, for CNN

Updated 5:10 AM ET, Tue October 4, 2016

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Photos:Voyeuristic views

Call of nature – Tourists can now relieve themselves while soaking in the stunning natural beauty of Shiyan Lake in China's Hunan province -- so long as they don't mind offering a (slightly blurry) view of themselves in the process.

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Photos:Voyeuristic views

Stand with care – The walls, ceiling and floor are fully transparent, but the stretch of glass from the floor to just over the toilet seat is slightly frosted.

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Photos:Voyeuristic views

'Insane' – The attraction-cum-washroom invited mostly negative assessments from netizens. "Who would dare go to a toilet like this?" said a commenter named Lin. "Insane. Perverse."

Golden Week – The bathroom opened on September 29 -- just in time for the week-long National Day Holiday.

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Story highlights

New public washroom in China's Hunan province is almost completely transparent

Chinese social media users have expressed concerns about privacy

(CNN)A new public washroom in China's Hunan province offers breathtaking views -- so long as you don't mind giving others a view of yourself.

The walls, ceiling and floor of the toilet cubicles, located in Shiyan Lake Ecology Park, are almost completely transparent.

That means when nature calls users relieve themselves while simultaneously soaking in the stunning beauty of Shiyan Lake.

Washroom visitors aren't fully exposed.

A portion of the glass, from the floor to just over the toilet seat, is slightly frosted, shielding users from those who might be tempted to sneak a peek of something other than the great outdoors.

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Shiyan Lake Ecology Park's glass washroom opened last week -- just in time for China's National Day holiday, when millions of Chinese take advantage of a week of public holidays to travel around the country.

'Insane. Perverse'

Social media users in China appear to be divided over the park's new attraction.

More than 14,000 comments have been posted on Chinese news site QQ.com since the toilets opened.

Many involve concerns about privacy.

"All the lechers will then stay in the toilets," commented a user named Fong.

According to Chinese state media, a male washroom in the southern province of Guilin offers urinals mounted in front of two glass walls overlooking the flora and fauna outside and the mountains in the distance.

But Hunan province might just lead the way when it comes to building dramatic glass structures.

Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh, India – Lamas at this Tibetan Buddhist monastery get to be at one with everything even during bathroom breaks. Their "panoramic toilet" is one of more than 100 included in Lonely Planet's "Toilets: A Spotter's Guide." (Picture credit: 500px)

Sony Center, Berlin – Standing around trying not to make eye contact with other men has never been so cool. (Picture credit: 500px)

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Photos:Lonely Planet guide to world's most spectacular toilets

Red Woods Toilets, Rotorua, New Zealand – These public toilets are encased in shrouds designed by Maori artist Kereama Taepa. Each depicts an extinct or endangered native bird. (Picture credit: 500px)

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Photos:Lonely Planet guide to world's most spectacular toilets

Jonsknuten, Kongsberg, Norway – There's no view of the 904-meter Jonsknuten mountain, unless the door is left open. But as Lonely Planet points out, the chances of being disturbed are minimal. (Picture credit: 500px)

Taylor Arm Provincial Park, British Columbia – The less said about bears, the better. (Picture credit: 500px)

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Photos:Lonely Planet guide to world's most spectacular toilets

Fountain of Toilets, Foshan, China – This flushing fountain made of 10,000 toilets celebrates Foshan's role as the ceramic capital of the world. It's the work of Chinese artist Shu Yong. (Picture credit: 500px)

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Photos:Lonely Planet guide to world's most spectacular toilets

Prototype space toilet – This suction-powered facility is designed to help astronauts do their business in zero gravity. (Picture credit: 500px)